Bee-swarmer



(No Model.)

F. D. LACY. BEE SWARMBR.

Patented Sept. 23. 1890.

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/N VENTOH y da@ E www H42 A rroH/VE rs UNITED STATES- lPATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS D. LACY, OF NIRVANA, MICHIGAN.

BEE-SWARMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,123, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed March 8, 1890. Serial No. 343,089. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS D. LACY, of Nirvana, in the county of Lake and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bee-Swarmers, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description.

My invention relates to a bee-swarmer, and has for its object to provide a means whereby an empty and an occupied hive may be so connected when the bees show inclination to swarm that they will be forced to take possession of the empty hive without incurring any loss in numbers and with safety to the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device capable of use in connection with any type of hive, and which will not interfere in the least with the proper construction of the hive when removed therefrom.

The invention consistsin the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. v Figure 1 is a perspective view of two hives connected in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the hives and their connecting-tube, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the connecting-tube detached. Fig. 4 shows a connecting-tube provided with a queen-excluding screen.

The hives A and B, in connection with which the device is used, may be of any suitable or approved construction. The hive A in the drawings represents the occupied hive, and the hive B the one into which it is purposed to swarm the bees. Each hive, however, is provided in opposite sides with an opening l0, located at the bottom, which openings are normally covered by doors '11, pivoted at one side of the openings. The openings 10 are so formed in the hives that one is normally opposite the other.

The swarming-tube 12, adapted to connect the hives, is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, and is semicircular in cross-section, the bottom 13 thereof being fiat, and near each end the tube is surrounded by an exterior flange 14, which flanges are adapted to determine the distance that the extremities of the tube shall enter the hives. i

In connection with the openings 10 a screen 15 is employed, which screen may be ot' any suitable or approved form, and may be also located either within the hive or upon the outer side of the same. A screen 16 is also constructed to cover the ordinary lower exitopening of the hive, the screens 15 and 16 being adapted to prevent the exit of the queenbee.

In operation the empty hive B is placed alongside of the occupied hive A, and the opposed openings of 'the two hives are uncovered by throwing back the doors 11. An end of the swarming-tube 12 is thereupon introduced into each ot` the said opposed openings, the anges 14 of the tube coming in contact with the outer side of the hives, whereby the said openings are completely closed and communication is established between .the hives. The door 11 at the outer side of the empty hive is thereupon opened, and the screen 15, above referred to, is placed therein, the outer door of the occupied hive being allowed to remain closed. The screens 16 are also placed in proper position to cover the exit-openings of the hives, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. By opening the door 11 at the outer side of the empty hive the light is permitted to shine into or is visible within the occupied hive, and the screens 15 and 16 effectually prevent the exit of the queen-bee, but permit the free entrance or exit of the working-bees. Upon discovering the light and the bees being in condition to swarm, the queen-bee will endeavor to escape, and will travel in direction of the light and enter the empty hive, passing through the tube 12, and the other bees will follow. Those out of the hive upon their return will hunt the queen and stay where she is. When the bees have left their old home and have become established in the new one, the screen l5 may be removed andthe door 11 closed over the outer opening, the tube 12 It will be understood that the tube, when V IOO provided with a queen-excluding` screen 12', may be employed to connect two hives, and when so used the bees will store honey in both hives and the queen Will have access to one hive only. It will be understood, of course, that the nterstices or perforations of said screen Will be suiiciently large to permit the Working-bees to pass freely therethrough in either direction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. The combination, with a bee-hive provided with diametrically-opposite openings at its Hoor-line, each having a closure, of a swarmreceiving hive provided with diametricallyopposite openings at its door-line, a tube connecting one opening of the first-named hive with the adjacent opening of the swarm-receiving hive, and a screen for the opposite opening of the latter hive, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bee-swarmer, the hive B, having a bee-entrance provided with a screen or cage 1G, and diametrically-opposed openings 10 at its floor-line provided with closures, as 11, and a screen 15, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a bee-hive A, having a bee-entrance provided with a screen 16, diametrically-opposed openings at its iioorline, and closures therefor, of the swarm-re ceiving hive B, having a bee-entrance also provided With a screen 16, diametricallyop posed side openings having closures, a tube for connecting either side opening of hive A with one side opening of the hive B, and a screen for the opposite side opening of the hive B, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS D. LACY.

Witnesses:

A. L. CHASE, GEO. ARNOLD. 

